Vancouver mother among 2 Canadians killed in Afghanistan

Vancouver’s Roshan Thomas was among the nine people killed in the Serena Hotel restaurant shooting at Kabul, Afghanistan.

Thomas leaves behind her husband and three children, who reside in Vancouver. The other Canadian victim in the shootout was from Calgary. Both Canadians killed were development aid workers.

Thomas is well known in Vancouver’s Ismaili Muslim community, largely for her work with the Aga Khan Foundation. Thomas was an ophthalmologist, along with her husband, who aided in refugee camps in Karachi, Pakistan. Over a decade ago, Thomas created an independent school in Kabul, called the Sparks Academy.

Federal government officials are in the process of gathering more information. The incident follows an attack by the Taliban in a neighbouring city which left 11 people dead at a police station.

A statement released by the Department of Foreign Affairs:

“Our thoughts are with the family and friends of two Canadian citizens who were killed in Afghanistan. Acts of terror must not go unpunished, and those who perpetrated this violence and those who support the Taliban, must be held accountable. To protect the privacy of the individuals concerned, further details on these cases cannot be released.”

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Thomas family and everyone else who was affected by this devastating event.